Mikayla W., who is in her second year of camp, said she liked experiencing initiation as already part of a tribe. 

“It was cool,” she said. “ I liked doing all the cheers with everyone in my tribe because you get to yell on purpose.” 

This afternoon, after a lunch of pizza and caesar salad, the tribes all went on a hunt for the Merri-Mac hatchet. According to a camp legend, the tribe that finds the hatchet will win the banner at the end of the session. Lily S., a Sunnysider who is part of the Black Bear tribe, found the hatchet.

“When I found it, I was like ‘Wait, is this the hatchet?’” she said. 

Sabel L. also had her eight birthday yesterday. 

“At dinner, everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me, and my mom gave the counselors a present to give to me,” she said. 

Activities also began today, and many campers are already thinking about how they can accomplish their goals and earn bars. 

“I got my bronze in gymnastics last year, so I want to work for my silver,” Gwenyth O. said. “I just don’t know what I have to do yet.”

Ellie V. is working for her bronze in both volleyball and basketball and said she wasn’t worried about earning them. 

For many of the older campers, bars are a way to become a Whitefeather, a special honor awarded to campers for excellence in activities and character. 

Cecilia G. said she knew of two campers who had earned enough marks and were currently undergoing the final step in the Whitefeather process. After completing a night-long crucible, campers have to carry a special rock to all their activities and are not allowed to speak for a day.